It has been a long-standing dream of Canoe North Adventures to one day have its very own northern base of operations in Norman Wells, NWT. CNA was recently encouraged to develop a business plan and apply for funding to make this dream a reality. The application process was exhaustive and highly competitive. On May 5^th, 2009, Canoe North Adventures was awarded a special Tourism Infrastructure Grant from the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism & Investment. The funding supports CNA’s dream to construct a wilderness adventure outfitting and tourism centre in Norman Wells.

Our Outfitting Centre

On July 1, 2009, a young and eager log-building crew headed by Calef Staples and Iain Long with support from Taylor Pace and Matt Casson, commenced construction of the 1700 square foot building. The timberframe structure includes scribed log infill walls highlighted by finely crafted saddle-notched corners. Cedar logs from Sault Saint Marie were trucked to Fort Simpson and then barged down the Mackenzie River to Norman Wells. Local spruce logs were acquired through the Norman Wells Land Corporation and our spectacular ridge beams were salvaged off the shores of the Mackenzie River and paddled “Huck-Fin” style to the town dock! Our magnificent cathedral ceiling is supported by 22ft long, 6×10 inch rafters custom-milled in Hay River, NWT. The construction site was alive with the sound of chainsaws, hammers, planers, drawknives and chisels throughout the endless, hot arctic summer creating mountains of sawdust, wood chips and bark.

On October 1, the last rafter was lowered in place with a crane, operated by Everett Pouw. In sub-zero temperatures and with winter fast approaching, the roof and steel sheeting was installed by Mark Herold, Gord Burke, Cody Berry, and Al Pace. The building was then boarded up and the site shut down until April, 2010 when the interior finishing work will begin.

The CNA building sits on the shore of picturesque DOT Lake, home of North-Wright Airways floatplane operations. All of our wilderness canoe and hiking expeditions requiring flights into the Mackenzie Mountains originate and end at the NWA Float Base so it is the primary staging area for adventure tourism.

Welcome!

North-Wright Airways also applied for and received NWT tourism infrastructure funding. NWA embarked on an ambitious plan to overhaul its tourism and floatplane expediting infrastructure. The project includes replacement of all dock facilities, construction of a floatplane hangar and a covered pavilion. An exciting heritage component involves the restoration and relocation of four original air services buildings into an outdoor historical airways museum. A 40ft painted mural of a vintage aircraft reminds visitors of the rich aviation legacy so intimately connected to opening up the rugged, northern frontier. The NWA project was developed and designed by Warren Wright with on-site construction engineered and supervised by Everett Pouw.

A view from above of the Centre

The combined construction projects of CNA and NWA represent one of the most dynamic tourism infrastructure development projects in Canada’s north and will herald in a new era in adventure tourism, aviation heritage and floatplane operations. On July 1, 2010, these new facilities will become operational. The CNA Wilderness Outfitting & Tourism Centre will offer complete and comprehensive support for hiking and canoeing expeditions in the northern Yukon and Northwest Territories.

The North-Wright Air Outdoor Aviation Museum will celebrate 90 years of flight in Canada’s north while the new docks, hangar and pavilion facilities will streamline and enhance the overall air services operations provided by North-Wright Airways. CNA & NWA are poised to deliver world-class adventure experiences to those who venture north. We are grateful for the support and shared vision of Warren and Carolyn Wright and the entire North-Wright family. These side-by-side projects would not be possible without the financial support provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you!

Construction begins on the Outfitting Centre

Let the adventure begin!

Lin Ward & Al Pace

Canoe North Adventures